Union delegates first to be fired

published
03-10-2013 14:16,
last modified
10-10-2013 14:13

The Pinehurst factory, producing for Nike and Adidas, dismissed workers in August 2011 due to falling orders at the factory. Union delegates and union members were singled out for dismissal. After a very long process with many delays, a collective bargaining agreement was signed. However, until today it has only been partially implemented.

The Clean Clothes Campaign never received a response from Pinehurst Manufacturing. However, partners on the ground confirmed that the letters did have some effect. The owner was more willing to listen to the union when he understood that 'other eyes' were following the case as well.

“CCC has been one of the defining influences on code of conduct over the last 10 years. Codes of conduct have moved from being a fringe idea to a central plank of single CSR policy in the industry. A large part of that is because CCC internationally have been a champion for the role of brands taking action... and have placed and kept the issue in the public domain.”

“CCC have had impact by raising our awareness, triggering the development of our code of conduct and our subsequent mechanisms on monitoring, disclosure practises, decision to join MSI, training and follow-up.”

“If there is a critical situation in a factory that we have not become aware of ourselves, we do of course react immediately, if this is brought to our attention by CCC.”

“All activities raise awareness but do not change policies, urgent appeals have most impact to improve or change the way of working with a supplier or improve a situation if needed.”